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Rep. Kevin McCarthy is the first Speaker of the House in U.S. history to be removed from his position, but now that the motion has been adopted, what comes next?
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who led the charge to remove McCarthy, per RSBN, posted to X Tuesday stating, “The fight is not over. Now, we must elect a new Speaker.”
Gaetz also noted in a Fox News interview posted by Charlie Kirk, “Kevin McCarthy couldn’t keep his word.”
He decried him as a “feature of the swamp” and added, “he has risen to power by collecting special interest money.”
Gaetz also stated that he will not be seeking to fill the position himself and suggested Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.
If Scalise is not willing to seek the position, Gaetz also supported Rep. Tom Emer, R-Minn., Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, or Rep. Kevin Hearn, R-Okla., for Speaker of the House.
According to Business Insider, a secret list of House members who could serve in his stead was created when McCarthy assumed the position. This list included Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who has served in the House for nine terms.
McHenry was named the temporary Speaker of the House Tuesday night and may be able to keep the position.
One of his first orders of business was to call a week-long recess, something Gaetz criticized. He responded by posting to X, ”We should get to electing a new, more conservative and more trustworthy Speaker immediately.”
“This is not the time to go home for a week. We should stay and elect a new Speaker,” he added.
